Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1887-03-17

pdstOFsnlp In Two cnurcnes IN III
diana, he removed to Plymouth church in
the city OF Brooklyn, n. ", where lie has
since been located. Here he has one OF
States.
His popularity as a pulpit speaker and
as lecturer speedily became prodigious-
owing partly to his rich fund Of lllustra-
ton, his dramatic manner, and his keen
sense of humor. For nearly twenty years
he was editor of the New York hide
pendent, religious newspaper, and for
nearly twelve more he was editor OF the
| Christian ImCn.
Intense interest was shown when, In
| 1873, he was tried for adultery. The jury
| were unable to agree on verdict, the
majority inclining to acquit him.
Since then his influence, can hardly be
fidelity OF his congregation is mistaken.
The effect that Mr.. Beecher's death will
have on Plymouth church cannot well be
anticipated. He used to talk with Thomas
q. Sherman and other intimate friends
about the approaching end. but of late
years he has said nothing. The only thing
he ever feared was the failure Of his mind
destroying his usefulness. He often said,
"When the end comes hope 1t will come
suddenly But that the change may af-
feet the church seriously Is feared. Mr..
Sherman says 1t Is on good financial basis.
but the members have thought so little Of
such contingency as MIR. Beecher's
death that no provision had been made for
It, At one tine il was proposed to have a
younger man installed as assistant pastor
to grow up with Mr. Beecher. but this was
| neglected. and now there Is no one in
charge but Rev. Mr.. Halliday.
/ Mr.. Beecher made two trips to Europe
at two important epochs. In 1853 he saw
going in favor Of secession and
slavery, and went over the ocean
to try to stem the tide. He was
met with no love by the pro-scuthern
mobs of Liverpool, but he queiled them.
and he had share OF the honor for what.
ever little change of English public senti.
ment was made in favor of the north.
His second trip was in June last, when
the national elections We're the sole topic
of interest in Great Britain. Everybody
knew what his SYM athie' were in that
struggle, and IL was expected that he
would make speeches throughout the
| United kingdom in favor of the principle
OF home rue. He had hardly disembarhed
from the Etruria when he found host OF
requests awaiting him To speak at Irish
home rule meetings through the length
and breadth of the land, but lie was forced
to ignore them all, as lie felt that he could
not, without impertinence, interfere iii the
politics of n foreign country. But once he
appeared before the public, when he re-
manned over at Liverpool to meet Mr..
Gladstone, and when the two grand old
men went forth on the stage of HengleT's
circus before vast assemblage, there
were as many cheers for the grand old
man from America as there were for the
grand old man of England. The urgent
call for utterance from him brought out
J no reply, for he felt that there was no need
| at the time of an Americans interference.
| Although in receipt OF an income prUba-
bly, as large as that of the Pre- ,ident of the
United States, Mr. Beecher is not ri IN
man. His charity, which was always in
cliued to be on the quiet, was well known.
| His main pos essions consist of his valua-
| BILE library and an excellent farm at feeks
kill, N. Y His wife, a charming old lady,
exerts no small influence in her large cir
Gle of admiring friends. His sons seem 70
have inherited their fathers good quail
ties, but have chosen mercantile life in
! which to achieve their success.
His father, Lyman Beecher, was before
him a most powerful preacher and plat
form orator, and Edward, his elder broth
er, was also noted.